Container



y 9, 1957 D. ENGEL 2,798,631

CONTAINER Filed March 7, 1955 i (2 E1232 Z INYENTOR ATTORNEYS United. States Patent ()fi e m 2,798,631 Patented July 9 1 957 CONTAINER DavidEngel, Washington,- D. C. Application March 7, 1955, Serial-No. 492,652

1 Claim. (Cl; 220:4)-

This invention relates to containers especially designed for containing hot or cold foods in solid or liquid form.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a sectional container of this character constructed of any suitable material commonly employed in the manufacture of such containers, the material being preferably heavy cardboard, sheet metal or plastic capable of easy fabrication, and of a quality permitting the formation of an integral marginal insulating flange with surrounding spaces.

An important object of the invention is to provide a receptacle wherein the bottom and top sections thereof are provided with interlocking marginal flanges having offset portions which are constructed and arranged in such a way that the offset portions which are provided are interlocked in closing the receptacle when packaging hot or cold foods therein, the flanges having frictional contact at four separate and independent points along the flanges locking the flanges together against accidental disengagement.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of marginal laterally extended flanges separated from the main portion of the receptacle by lines of indentations, affording means for permitting the flanges to be readily broken from the receptacles to permit of ready access to the interior of the receptacle when removing the contents thereof.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmental plan view of a food container constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view illustrating the interlocked marginal flanges of the container sections.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental sectional view illustrating the marginal flanges as extended inwardly and completely encased in the sections of the container.

Referring to the drawing in detail the container com- As better shown by Fig. 3 of the drawing, the peripheral flange 7 of the bottom section extends downwardly at 9 in spaced relation with the adjacent edge of the bottom section, providing a space 10. The downwardly extended flange portion 9 curves laterally at 10' and extends upwardly at 11, from where the flange extends downwardly at 12, providing a space 13. The peripheral flange 7 is curved at 14 and extends upwardly at 15 with 2 a slight curve", the extremity of the flange being extended at 16.

The marginal flange of the cover section 6 extends laterally and downwardly at 17, from where the flange extends upwardly at 18 providing a channel 19'. The flange 8" is curved at 20 to fit over the portion 11 of the cooperating flange. The flange 8 now extends down wardly' at 21 and is curved upwardly providing the wall 22, the extremity of this flange 8 being also extended laterally at 23 to overlie the laterally extended edge 16 of the bottom section.

It might be further stated that'the curved portions of the marginal flanges are brought together in closing the cover section over the bottom sefctibn, the: frictional con tact between the curved portions of the peripheral and marginal flanges 7 and 8, causing a binding or gripping action between the flanges to-firmly' securethe cover sec= tion to the bottom se'cti'on' in a manner as better shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

In order that the flanges may be readily and easily removed from the body of the container, lines of indentations 24 are provided in the flanges at points adjacent to the bottom section and cover section, constituting a weakened section which may be readily broken by merely bending the interconnected flanges laterally of the plane of the container along the line of indentations.

With the flange broken it may be readily removed and the sections of the container disconnected to permit the contents of the container to be readily removed.

Because of the construction of the bottom section and cover section it will be obvious that these sections may be used as plates to permit the food to be consumed from the sections of the container.

In the form of the invention as shown by Fig. 4 of the drawing, a bottom section is indicated by the reference character 5, While the cover section is indicated by the reference character 6, the sections 5' and 6 having in- Wardly extended marginal flanges 7' which interlock in gripping relation when the cover section is fitted over the bottom section, securely fastening the sections together.

In order that the cover section 6 and bottom section 5' in this form of the invention may be readily disconnected, depressions 8' and 9' are formed in the bottom section and cover section, respectively, the depressions affording means whereby the fingers of the person opening the container may be positioned therein to exert inward pressure on the sections to disconnect them and move the contacting portions of the flanges away from 0 each other.

From the foregoing it will be seen that in Fig. 4 of the drawing, I have provided a container which is substantially rectangular in formation, while in Fig. l of the drawing the container is circular. However, it is to be understood that the general contour of the container may be varied to meet various requirements of use. As for example, the body portion of the container would necessarily be changed when the invention is embodied in the construction of a drinking cup having a closure for maintaining the contents of the cup insulated.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A container comprising a bottom section of inverted frusto-conical shape having a top rim and a complementary top section of frusto conical shape having a bottom rim, said bottom section having a peripheral flange extending outwardly from the rim thereof, said flange being of substantially W-shaped cross section, said top rim being reverted to form a first downwardly extending portion of said flange in spaced relation with the adjacent side of said bottom section, an upwardly concaved laterally curved section, a first upwardly extending portion terminating below the top of said first downwardly extending portion, a downwardly concaved second laterally curved section, a second downwardly extending port-ion, an upwardly concaved third laterally curved section, a second upwardly extending portion terminating in a plane level with said top rim, and a laterally extending flat portion at the top of said second upwardly extending portion, said top section having a confronting marginal flange of W-shaped cross section comprising a third downwardly extending portion depending from its lower rim, seating when said top and bottom sections are in assembled relation against said first downwardly extending portion of said peripheral flange, an upwardly concaved fourth laterally curved section abutting said first upwardly concaved laterally curved section, a third upwardly extending portion abutting said first upwardly extending portion, a downwardly concaved fifth laterally curved section overlying said downwardly concaved second laterally curved section, a fourth downwardly extending portion abutting said second downwardly extending portion, an upwardly concaved sixth laterally curved section overlying said upwardly concaved third laterally curved section, a fourth upwardly extending portion abutting the inner side of said second upwardly extending portion, and a laterally extending flat portion overlying said first mentioned flat portion, said marginal flange and said peripheral flange thus frictionally interlocking firmly securing said top and bottom sections together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 52,909 Taylor Feb. 27, 1866 606,838 Heins July 5, 1898 608,772 Harmatta Aug. 9, 1898 1,028,726 Holm June 4, 1912 1,089,066 Meyer Mar. 3, 1914 2,251,808 Rutkowski Aug. 5, 1941 2,263,185 Ottesen Nov. 18, 1941 2,650,736 Curry Sept. 1, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 388,133 France May 22, 1908 659,382 France Feb. 4, 1929 

